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Auckland quality of life 3rd best in world: Mercer

checklistAuckland's quality of life has again rated among the best in the world in a survey by recruitment consultancy Mercer.

The city was ranked third in Mercer's global Quality of Living Index, the same as its 2014 position, behind


Vienna and Zurich placed first and second respectively.

Wellington rated 12th, behind Sydney at number 10.

Ranking 230th, Baghdad was the lowest-ranking city on the list.

The survey is aimed at helping employers judge how much to pay staff posted to different parts of the world.

Mercer's reports provide information and hardship premium recommendations for over 440 cities throughout the world; the ranking covers 230 of these cities.

Lorraine Jennings, the firm's global mobility practice leader in the Pacific market, said the 2015 index showed New Zealand cities overall had a high quality of living and provided an attractive location for global companies looking to place employees.

"The consistent performance of New Zealand cities, particularly Auckland, in Mercer's Quality of Living Index illustrates the appeal of the region in providing a stable base for employees and their families," she said.

Mercer principal Slagin Parakatil said overseas asignments could be challenging.

"Cultures, societies, and comparatively different climates, as well as political instability, high crime rates, and poor infrastructure can be difficult to navigate and settle down in for employees and their families. Employers need to assess whether their staff and families will encounter any drop in quality of living when relocating and ensure they are fairly compensated for it."

Asia is the region with the largest range in quality-of-living standards, with the highest-ranking city, Singapore, in 25th place and the lowest-ranking, Dushanbe in Tajikistan, in 214th place.

Topping the ranking across East Asian cities was Tokyo in 44th place.

Behind Singapore, the second highest-ranking city in Southeast Asia was Kuala Lumpur (84).

Despite concerns about economic growth, the cities of Western Europe still offered a stable environment for employees and employers.

Vienna (1) was followed by Zurich (2), Munich (4), Düsseldorf (6), and Frankfurt (7). With Geneva and Copenhagen in 8th and 9th places, respectively, Western European cities took seven places in the top 10.

The lowest-ranking cities in Western Europe were Belfast (63) and Athens (85).

In North America, Canada and the United States continued to offer a high standard of living. Vancouver (5) topped the list for this region, followed by Toronto (15) and Ottawa (16), whereas San Francisco (27), Boston (34), and Honolulu (36) are the highest-ranking US cities.

In South America, Montevideo (78), Buenos Aires (91), and Santiago (93) are the highest-ranked cities, whereas La Paz (156) and Caracas (179) rank lowest.

In 74th place, Dubai ranks highest for quality of living across the Middle East and Africa region.

Real Estate Investar Editor
Real Estate Investar Editor
Real Estate Investar provides intelligent software, tools and data to help you save time and make money in the residential property investment market.

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